Queen Chudala: The Erudite Queen Who Taught Spirituality to Her Husband
We have read about many wise and heroic rulers who maintained peace and justice in their kingdom. We have heard the great tales about them ruling their kingdom in a quixotic manner. But have u ever read about an ingenious queen who ruled the kingdom wisely and in a great manner in absence of her husband? The queen was so enlightened with the profound knowledge of vedas that she taught spirituality to her husband.
She was the sage cum Queen Chudala. We will be reading about her life and her resounding contribution in shaping not just her husband’s life but shaping the whole kingdom. It is because after her husband decided to renounce the materialistic world and become an ascetic then the whole responsibility of governing the kingdom came upon her shoulders. Queen Chudala was the epitome of wise and learnt lady.
History
Queen Chudala was born in the Tetra Yuga. She was a radiant woman with deep knowledge of shastras and vedas. She was married to the king Sikhidwaj, who governed the present-day Maharashtra. The Queen Chudala considered everyone in her kingdom as her own child. Hence, she also received immense love and respect from the citizens of her kingdom. She was highly valued for her knowledge and deep insights. Because of her deep understanding of vedas Queen Chudala had fathomed the mantra of life and she was always happy and smiling. She would never be troubled by any adversity.
The king also desired to experience a similar bliss. So, one fine day he took the plunge of renouncing this materialistic world, worldly attachments, and worldly allurements and becoming an ascetic. He decided to practise meditation and penance in the forest. He appointed his wife Queen Chudala to look after the kingdom in his absence and went to the jungle. Queen Chudala was not gifted just with wisdom but also internal vision. She was also bestowed upon with the powers that of a seer. She could see with the help of her internal vision that her husband was not going to succeed. She realized that her husband was just goofing up in the name of meditation. He should be here running his kingdom.
So, in order to help her husband, Queen Chudala appeared in the forest, with the help of her yogic powers, where her husband was meditating. The king immediately noticed her presence as if he was not really meditating but simply running away from his responsibilities in the name of becoming an ascetic.
The king asked, “What are you doing here?”
Queen Chudala replied, “I’m here to guide you because you are not doing meditation but simply wasting your time. You have renounced nothing.”
Her statement enraged the king and he asked, “How can you say that? I have given up my kingdom, I have relinquished my wealth, I have relinquished you. How can you say I have renounced nothing?”
The queen replied in a calm voice, “I’m saying the truth king. You have renounced nothing.”
Angered even more, the king threw all his belongings and asked, “What about now?”
Standing her ground firmly the queen replied, “Not even now.”
Fuming with anger the king now began climbing a tree, “I’m left with this body now. I’m going to commit suicide. I’ll renounce it too.”
The queen now elucidated the king, “Real renunciation lies in renouncing one’s egoism, one’s carnal desires, and one’s knowledge that makes him aware of this mortal and perishable world. If you want renounce anything then renounce all this thing.”
The king was stupefied with this deep insight and he fathomed that material life and spiritual life are not mutually exclusive. Material life cannot blemish spiritual life. Understanding this both the king and Queen Chudala returned to their kingdom and the king happily ruled his kingdom and Queen Chudala always played a pivotal role in giving suggestions to the king. They ruled the kingdom in harmony and coherence.
Achievement
The notable achievements of Queen Chudala are:
- Her role as a Ruler
In the absence of her husband, Queen Chudala ruled the kingdom effectively considering every citizen her own child.
- Educational Influence
Queen Chudala is the epitome of women’s intelligence. She was so learnt that she possessed deep knowledge of scriptures. She guided her husband. She exemplifies that how women can also have profound knowledge and can be at par with their male contemporaries.
- Devotion and Spiritual Leadership
Chaudala is known for her deep devotion and spiritual insights. Her commitment to spiritual practices and her role as a spiritual leader earned her recognition and respect.
Legacy
Queen Chudala is no more but her stupendous teaching about material life and spiritual life still resonates deeply in the spiritual world. She taught the humankind how material world cannot contaminate spiritual world. She also taught how for achieving spirituality one needs to renounce ego, carnal desires, and knowledge.
She truly was a pioneer of women knowledge and intellect. She is an inspiration for millions of women and will keep inspiring and motivating posterities to come. Queen Chudala was the epitome of a wise ruler, a learnt lady, and a devoted female saint.
